Bills We’re Watching

Since 2009, Keep NJ Safe has been tirelessly advocating for crime victims and working with state legislators to enact reforms that help protect our community and improve overall public safety.

The following bills have been filed with the NJ Legislature, and their passage is supported by Keep NJ Safe:

S811/A1423 expands the rights of crime victims to include the right to allow certain non-victims to make an in-person statement at sentencing. The bill also allows victims to provide testimony at certain post adjudication hearings. This measure will ensure that the voices of those most deeply affected by violent crime will be heard, and given all due consideration concerning the impact of the crime committed against them and/or their loved ones.

STATUS: PASSED SENATE 11/14/16, REFERRED TO ASSEMBLY, AWAITING FURTHER ACTION S811 passed the Senate unanimously on Nov. 14, 2016, and was referred to the Assembly Law & Public Safety Committee, along with its Assembly counterpart, A4123. A letter of support for this bill was sent to the members of the Committee from Keep NJ Safe.

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S812/A3592 removes the age restriction on testifying via closed circuit television in certain sex crimes cases, where there is a substantial likelihood of severe emotional or mental distress if forced to testify in open court.

STATUS: PASSED SENATE 11/14/16,, AWAITING FURTHER ACTIONS812 passed the Senate unanimously on Nov. 14, 2016 without referral. It’s counterpart, A3592, awaits action in the Assembly Law & Public Safety Committee. A letter of support for this bill was sent to the members of the Committee from Keep NJ Safe.

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S2005/A3359 is intended to protect the children and youth of New Jersey by prohibiting moderate and high risk sex offenders from holding any job, position or type of employment which primarily consists of contact with children.

STATUS: AWAITING ACTION S2005 was introduced on April 18, 2016 and referred to the Senate Law & Public Safety Committee. A3359 was introduced on March 3, 2016 and was referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

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A3626 prohibits the release of personal identifying information of violent crime victims and witnesses under NJ’s Open Public Records law.

STATUS: PASSED ASSEMBLY,PENDING FURTHER ACTION IN SENATE A3626 passed the NJ Assembly on May 26, 2016 (69-0-3) and was referred to the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee, where it awaits further action.

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A373/S607 calls for Joan’s Law to be expanded to sentence anyone who murders a child under the age of 18 during the course of sex crime to Life in Prison without the possibility of Parole. This is a bill that Keep NJ Safe first worked on in 2010, and has continued to follow closely. (To learn more about our efforts on this bill, see Our Legislative Advocacy page.)

STATUS: PASSED THE ASSEMBLY, AWAITING A VOTE IN THE SENATE A373 was passed unanimously by the full Assembly on February 15, 2017. The Senate version of the bill, S607, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 1, 2017, and is awaiting a vote by the full Senate.

A4062/S2342 seeks to deter reckless behavior by drivers by making it easier for prosecutors to convict someone of vehicular homicide due to distracted driving. This bill is also known as Eileen’s Law, in memory of accident victim Eileen Marmino, who was killed by a distracted driver (read more about her story HERE).

STATUS: RELEASED FROM ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE, AWAITING ASSEMBLY VOTE, SENATE VERSION PENDING FURTHER HEARING A4062 was reported out of the Assembly Transportation Committee with amendments on January 19, 2017. The bill now awaits posting for a vote by the full Assembly. The Senate version of the bill, S2342, was released from the Senate Law & Public Safety Committee on September 29, 2016 and referred to the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, where it awaits further action.